They first say that, because the government was in peril of its life, it had a right to license great crimes against private persons, if by so doing it could raise money for its own preservation.
Spooner critiques the justification of government actions during crises that infringe on individual rights.
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In that case the trial is really a trial by the government, and not by the jury.
That the legislation of the king was of no authority over a jury, is further proved by the oath taken by the kings at their coronation.
From the sale of that justice which every citizen has a right to demand, it was an easy transition to withhold or deny it.
And the right is practically established only when and because the government, no longer exists to call it in question.